Editorial
Participation in upazila polls
Grassroots opinion should be taken note of
IT is interesting to note that the supporters at the grassroots level of major political parties, like the Awami League (AL) and the Jatiya Party (JP), are expressing their desire to take part in upazila election scheduled for October. They are doing so in spite of the fact that their top leaders still remain opposed to polls of any kind before the national election. Media reports further reveal that sections of supporters of BNP at grassroots are also awaiting go ahead signal from the party bosses for taking part in the upcoming polls.
This by all means is a significant development in the country's political arena and it deserves a deeper analysis. According to the buzz going around, boycotting the polls might result in serious discontent among the workers and supporters of the major parties. They believe the decision might have a negative impact on the party's preparations for the national election. Therefore, the question that the party policy makers are faced with at the moment is whether they should listen to the voice at the grassroots or stick to their top-down, unilateral decision. With the city corporation and municipality elections passing off peacefully and successfully, it is evident that the workers and supporters at the local levels have become more enthused to test party popularity through contesting in the electoral process. This we feel is a positive aspect in our struggle for upholding the democratic process in the country. This needs to be mentioned here that the Election Commission is not going to hold elections to all upazilas but only in less than one fourth of them before the national election. So, there is no ground for attaching any ulterior motive to the exercise.
We believe party supporters' stand has put party stalwarts in a tricky situation, which they will have to face tactfully if they want to make all stakeholders happy. If leaders remain confused and fail to give their prudent decision, and if supporters at the grassroots level insist on going for the polls it might put the credibility of the respective parties at stake.
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